Frost removing arrangement for refrigerator cabinets



April 8, 1952 L. w. ATCHISON 2,592,233

FROST REMOVING ARRANGEMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Filed Oct. 14, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Fig.3. 5 a

II guua R Inventor:

Leon 'a'hd v\/. Atchison,

by%%M/ His Attcn' hey.

April 8, 1952 L. w. ATCHISON FROST REMOVING ARRANGEMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1949 was Pig. 4.

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Inventor" Leonard \N. Atchison,

His Attorney.

Patented Apr. 8, 1952 FROST REMOVING ARRANGEMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Leonard W. Atchison, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 14, 1949, Serial No. 121,392

My invention relates to refrigerator cabinets employing sliding drawers and more specifically to frost removing arrangements for such cabinets.

It is sometimes desirable in household refrigerators, for example, in storing frozen foods, to provide a sliding drawer. This drawer may move within a refrigerated compartment or the drawer itself may be refrigerated. In either event, frost forms on the drawer or on the liner of the refrigerated compartment, and this frost may gradually fill the space between the liner and the drawer, retarding the sliding of the drawer. By my invention a portion of the frost so collecting is automatically removed each time the drawer is opened, minimizing the thickness of frost. This permits reduction in clearance between the drawer and the liner, thus enabling the securing of a somewhat larger storage space.

It is an object of my invention to provide a refrigerator cabinet having a sliding drawer and including an improved arrangement for niinimiz- In carrying out the objects of my invention, a

scraper is arranged either on the drawer or on the cabinet adjacent the drawer for removing the frost each time the drawer is slid out for access thereto. In this way frost is progressively removed as the drawer is used and the total amount allowed to collect at any time is minimized.

For a better understanding of my invention ref erence may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a sectional elevation view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet illustrating the modified form of my invention; and Fig. 4 is an elevation view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a refrigerator cabinet I including an outer wall 2 and spaced inner walls 3 and 4. The inner wall 3 defines a fresh food compartment, a portion of '7 Claims. (Cl. 62103) which is indicated at 5, and the inner wall 4 defines a frozen food compartment 6. The access frozen foods.

opening of the fresh food compartment is closed by a door 7.

A drawer 8 is slidably received within the compartment 6 and provides a storage space for The drawer includes a front portion 9 which is arranged to close the access opening ill of the frozen "food compartment 6, and a handle I l is provided for withdrawing the drawer from its compartment. The drawer may be arranged to slide within the compartment 6 in any suitable manner. For example, rails I2 secured to the front portion 9 of the drawer may extend into the space- 13 between the inner and outer walls and ride on channels 14 secured to the outer wall-'2'. Rollers 15 secured to the rails 12 and rolling within the channels I4 and rollers [5' secured tothe channels and supporting the rails facilitate easy movement of the drawer. The specific arrangement for slidably mounting the l drawer on rails extending into the insulation space between the inner and outer walls is not part of my' invention, but is described in detail and claimed in a copending application of Ray Patten, Serial No. 87,984, filed April 16, 1949, and

assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In order to maintain the compartment 6 ate. suitable temperature for refrigerating the frozen' food in-the drawer 8, a refrigerating system is provided. This system is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 and includes a motor-compressor unit It, a condenser l1, and an evaporatorl8. The evaporator consists of tubing [9 secured in serpentine fashion to the exterior of the inner wall or liner 4. Liquidrefrigerant is supplied through a restricting tube 2% to the evaporator tubing l9 and vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn: from a header 21' through asuction line 22. In order to minimize the collection of frost along the upper portion of a compartment 6 fewer turns of tubing are secured to this portion of the wall 4 so that this portion will run at a slightly higher temperature than the remainder of the wall and hence frost will preferentially collect on the remainder of the wall 4.

Since the wall 4 is maintained at a temperaturewell below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, frost progressively builds up along the interior surface of the Wall 4 within the compartment 9. Frost so collecting would eventually fill the space between the wall 4 and the drawer, making it difiicult to remove the drawer and rendering it necessary to defrost the compartment completely. In order to minimize the accumulation of frost on the wall 4, I provide a scraper 23 secured to the drawer 8 and adapted toengage the wall 4 along the bot-.

scraper 23 is automatically moved along the wall- 4 of the frozen food compartmentand removes the frost which has collected thereon.

In order to catch the frost removed from the" wall 4, a receptacle 30 is provided within a machinery compartment 3| opening 10 of the frozen food compartment. The receptacle is supported at each side by. rails,

one of which is shown at 32, which are secured toopposite walls of the machinery compartment 3 l A trim piece 33 formed of substantially the same thickness as the front 9 of the drawer is secured to the forward portion of the receptacle :.30-to provide a pleasing appearance, and a handle 34 istprovidedon this trim piece for removing-the receptacle when desired. Normally the' heat within the machinery compartment causes melting: and evaporation of any frost collected..,with-.

in the receptacle but it maybe necessary occasionallyto remove'the receptacle forcleaning.

Arr opening 35is provided in the top 36 .of the trim piece forpermitting, frost forced over "the:

edgeSl ofthe access-opening to fall into the-re ceptacle 130.

InFigs.-3'and.4 there is shown amodified form of .myinvention in. which the .drawer .is refrigers' 1 ated,'.,and the scraper is mounted on the cabinet for;removing frost collecting, on the exterior'off The sameinumerals have'been used.

the drawer. to-r'designate corresponding parts in Figs; 3 and 14 and in Figs. 1 and .2. Referring, now to Figs.- 3 and 4, there is shown a drawer 38 which is mountedffor sliding movement within-the. frozen food compartment. 6 .-inthe; same manner as I the drawer 8 shown' in Figs. 1.and.2.-. The drawertis.

refrigerated by refrigerating apparatus includin the:motor-compressor unit [6 and thecondenser IL A plurality of turns of evaporator-tubing .39 are'secured to the-exterior of the rear wall dli-of the drawer and a plurality of turns of evaporator tubing 4| are also secured to a shelf 42 within the drawer for refrigerating. the contents thereof.

In. order to permit sliding movement of the. drawer the .liquid line 20 is provided with a. flex-- ible coil portion .43 and the a suction. line .22 similarly, provided with a flexible coil. portion. 44.

Since temperature-of the drawer is maintained wellibelow 32 degrees Fahrenheit frost-graduallycollects on .the wall of the drawer 38. This-frost would gradually, build up until it filledrthe space between the bottom .wall' 45 of the drawer and they bottom portion 45 ofithe inner wallA-and also the space :is between. the sidewalls: 41 and 48 ,offthe drawer and theLside .wall portions "49 and .150, re-'-- spectively, of theoinner wall, 4.1 This accumulation of frost .would makeitdifilcult to slide-the drawer, and would -necessitate defrosting 'Iof the frozen food compartment. In orderto minimize the collection of frost on the drawer andhence to reduce .the :frequency of zdefrosting, ,I provide a scraper.5l .securedito the cabinetadjacent the accessopeningifl of thefrozen food compartment '6.

41 and 48; respectively; f the drawer. Thus;

each time the drawer is moved for "access'tothe' beneath the access The scraper includes aportiont.52 alongithe lower edge of'the access opening. for. engaging the .bottomwalli45 of the drawerxandportions 53 and.54 "extendingupwardly, alonggthe sides'of the .accessopening for engaging. the walls contents thereof, frost is scraped from the bottom and two side walls of the exterior of the drawer. In order to permit the frost so removed to fall into the receptacle 30, openings 55 and 56 are provided in the lower portion 52 of the scraper. The scraping edge of the scraper is positioned forwardly of the front face 51 of the cabinet so that frost removed from the drawer may fall through the openings 55, 55, past the face 51 ofthe cabinet, and into the receptacle 3!).

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit andscope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent'of the United States is:

l. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer wall, a spaced inner wall defining a compartment, 2. drawer slidably received within said compartment, means adjacentsaid inner. wall for cooling said compartment, said inner wall being maintained at a temperaturev on which frost forms thereon, and a scraper secured to said drawer for scrapingv frost from said inner wall when said drawer is moved 2. A refrigerator. cabinet including an outer wall, .a spaced inner wall defining a compartment,- saidcompartment having an. access opening at the'forward end thereof, a drawer slidably received within said compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling said compartment, said compartment being-maintained at a temperature .at which frost forms-therein, a scraper arranged to engage said' frost when said drawer is moved relative to said compartment for removing said frost, and'a receptacle positioned below said access opening and extending forwardly thereof of said compartmentforareceiving said removed frost.

3. A refrigerator cabinetincluding an outer wall, a spaced inner wall defining a food storage compartment, a machinery compartment disposed belowsaid food storage compartment, a drawer slidably received within said food storage compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling said food storage compartment, said food storage compartmentx-being maintained at a temperature at which frost forms therein, means arranged to engage said frost when said drawer is moved relative to said food storage compartment for removing, said frost, and a receptacle disposed within said machinery compartment below said access opening of said food storage compartment for-receiving said removed frost.

4. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer wall, a spaced inner wall defining a compartment, said compartment having an access opening :at the forward end thereof, a drawer slidably received within said compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling. said compartment, said compartment being;maintainedat a temperature at which frost forms on said inner wall, a scraper secured to saidfdrawer for engaging said frost to remove saidfrost when said drawer is moved relative to said compartment, and a receptacle positioned below said access opening of said compartment for :receiving, said removed frost.

5. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer wall,. a'spaced inner wall defining a food storage compartment, a machinery compartment disposedsbelow said food storage compartment, a

5 drawer slidably received within said food storage compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling said food storage compartment, said food storage compartment being maintained at a temperature at which frost forms on said inner wall, a scraper secured to said drawer for engaging said frost to remove said frost when said drawer is removed relative to said food storage compartment, and a receptacle disposed within said machinery compartment below said access opening of said food storage compartment for receiving said removed frost.

6. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer wall, a spaced inner wall defining a compartment, said compartment having an access opening at the forward portion thereof, a drawer slidably received within said compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling said drawer, said drawer being maintained at a temperature at which frost forms thereon, a scraper mounted on said cabinet adjacent said access opening and engaging said drawer forwardly of the front face of said cabivnet for scraping said frost from said drawer when said drawer is moved, and a receptacle positioned below said access opening and extending forwardly thereof for receiving said removed frost.

7. A refrigerator cabinet including an outer. wall, a spaced inner wall defining a compartment, said compartment having an access opening at the forward portion thereof, a drawer slidably received within said compartment and having a portion for closing said access opening, means for cooling said drawer, said drawer being maintained at a temperature at which frost forms thereon, a scraper mounted on said cabinet adjacent said access opening for scraping said frost from said drawer when said drawer is moved, and a receptacle positioned below said access opening for receiving said removed frost, the portion of said scraper adjacent the bottom of said access opening having an opening therein for permitting frost to fall therethrough into said receptacle.

LEONARD W. ATCHISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,095,008 Mackin Apr. 28, 1914 1,952,422 Copeman Mar. 27, 1934 2,412,068 Spader Dec. 3, 1946 

